でCause or reason marker
で marks a noun as the cause of an event, state, or other result. It is especially natural for concise, factual links involving weather, illness, accidents, noise, and similar circumstances.
How it works
The noun before で names the circumstance that brought about the following result. The cause is often outside anyone's control, while the result is usually an event or state such as a cancellation, delay, illness-related absence, or damage.
Common cause-and-result links
Notice that each sentence first gives a noun cause and then reports its consequence.
Cause versus means
The same particle can mark either a cause or an intentionally chosen means. In the first example, the wind brings about the result. In the second, the scissors are deliberately used to perform the action.
A neutral factual tone
This pattern reports the causal link without necessarily saying whether the speaker welcomes or dislikes the result. Any positive or negative judgment usually comes from the surrounding words and context.
More examples
台風で電車が止まりました。
The trains stopped because of the typhoon.
Analyze私は風邪で三日間仕事を休みました。
I took three days off work because of a cold.
Analyze落雷で停電が起きた。
A lightning strike caused a power outage.
Analyze私は昨夜、騒音でよく眠れませんでした。
I could not sleep well last night because of the noise.
Analyze彼は緊張で手が震えていた。
His hands were trembling from nervousness.
Analyze地震で古い建物が壊れた。
An old building was damaged by the earthquake.
Analyzeシステム障害でサービスが一時停止した。
The service was temporarily suspended because of a system failure.
Analyze雨で試合の開始が遅れた。
The start of the game was delayed by rain.
Analyze